Container core barrel



2 l 2 Sheets-Sheet l G. A. HUMASON El AL CONTAINER CORE BARREL FiledAug. 30, 1937 Aug. 9, 193s.

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G. A. HuMAsoN ET AL 2,126,684

CONTAINER CORE BARREL Aug. 9, 1938.

Filed Aug. 30, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @Glade fle Patented Aug. 9, 1938UNITED STATES *PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER CORE BARREL Application August30,

16 Claims.

The invention relates to a core taking device or tool such as isemployed for removing from a well bore oi cores or samples of theformation penetrated during the drilling of the well bore.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficientdevice for obtaining intact and uncontaminated samples from formationspenetrated when utilizing the rotary method of well drilling.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a coring toolhaving a core barrel in which a core or sample is completely encasedpreliminary to its removal from the well bore.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the classdescribed in which novel means is provided for severing a section ofcore and vencasing said section or sample for later ana-lysis andobservation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of theclass described in which, after the'sample or core has been cut, thedrill c ollar and bit may be moved longitudinally relative to eachother, means being provided for operation by means of such relativemovement for severing a section of the core and encasing such sectionwithin the core barrel.

Other objects and features will be best and more fully understood fromthe following detailed description of embodiments and application of theinvention, reference being had tok the accompanying drawings in whichFig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a tool eme bodying the invention,the parts being shown in position during the taking of a core or sample.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing parts in relative positionsafter the taking of the core has been completed and the tool is ready tobe withdrawn from the well bore.

Fig; 3 is an elevation partly in section showing the relative positionof the parts in the early stage of closing of the ends of the sampleencasing core barrel.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of each of Figs. 1 and3. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of each of Figs. 1and 3.

In the drawings, the drill collar I is of special construction which isattached at its upper end by means of threads'2 to an operating stringor drill stem 3. The lower end of the collar I is attached to a core bit4 having a shank 5.

The drill collar I is of a composite construction comprising a, head 6,in which the axial bore 'I is counter-bored at 8, the counter bore 8being provided with threads 2 whereby the operating string 1937, SerialNo. 161,550

(Cl. Z55-72) 3 is attached' thereto. The lower end of the head 6 has areduced portion 9 provided with peripheral 4threads Iii, to which isattached a sleeve II having an axial bore forming a cylindrical chamberI2 therein.

Within the counter-bore 8 is positioned an upwardly opening check valveI5 threadably secured in the bore 'i by means of a iianged nipple Iii.`The check valve I5 comprises a valve cage il, a valve seat insert I8,clamped between the cage il and the nipple IE, and the ball valve I9resting upon the valve seat IB. It will be apparent that theconstruction just described will permit the movement of fluid upwardlyfrom within the bore l but will prevent the movement of fluid downwardlytherein from the operating string or stem 3. In order to providedownward movement of the drilling fluid from the stem 3 a plurality ofpas- -sages 20 are provided in the walls of the head 6.

Below the check valve I5 in the head 6 is provided a supplementary checkvalve which is generally designated as 2| and which opens outwardly fromwithin the bore'l. This valve together with the check valve I5 assuresthe discharge of uid from within the-bore I when the pressure thereinexceeds the pressure upon either the check valve I5 or the supplementarycheck valve 2|. Below the check valve 2I in the head 6 the bore 'I isenlarged to receive the upper end of the core barrel 24, suchenlargement terminating at its upper end in a rounded shoulder 23 toengage a complementary end on the core barrel 24.

The lower end of the head 6 is counterbored at 25 and hence provides askirt 26 which serves as a stop in a manner to be hereafter described.An annular 'recess 21 within the bore 1 is provided adjacent thecounterbore 26 to receive a lipped sealing ring 28 to provide a sealbetween the head 6 and the core barrel 24.

The drill shank or sub 5 has a head portion 30 which is adapted toslidingly t within the chamber I2 and which is provided with aperipheral sealing ring 3I to prevent the leakage of the drilling fluidinto the coarse threads 32 on the `drill shank below the head 30. Thethreads32 on the drill shank 5 engage complementary threads in the lowerend of the sleeve II. In order to prevent leakage of the drilling fluidupwardly into the threads 32, a lipped sealing ring 33 is secured to thelower end of the sleeve II by means of a clamp ring 34 and cap screws35. By means of this construction a lubricant may be retained about thethreads 32 whereby relative movement Aof the threads may be readilyeiected.

The bore within the drill shank 5 is of such Cil diameter as toslidingly receive the core barrel 24. This bore isv enlarged at itsupper end to receive packing 40 and a packing gland 4| whereby a seal isformed between the barrel 24 and the drill shank 5. It is apparent fromthis construction that a fluid seal exists between the core barrel 24and the surrounding elements whether all parts rotate as a unit or thecore barrel 24 remains stationary while the remainder of the toolrotates thereabout.

The drill shank 5 is provided with longitudinal passages 42 for downwardconduction of the drilling iluid to the core bit 4, which is attached tothe drill shank by means of threads 45. An annular groove 46 is providedin the core bit 4, so that fluid from the passages in the drill shankwill be conducted to outwardly extending passages 41 in the bit 4. It isto be understood that the present invention is not confined to the useof the sh tail type of bit which is here described as an element of thepreferred embodiment. On the other hand, it is apparent that a rollerbit or other suitable type of bit may be utilized instead of theflshtail bit 4.

Within the bit 4 is provided a rounded shoulder similar to the shoulder23, which is provided in the head 6. This shoulder 50 is adapted toengage the complementary rounded lower end of the core barrel 24. Whilethe shoulder 50 is shown as provided within the bit 4, it is to beunderstood that such sh'oulder may be provided as desired in either thecore bit or within the shank 5.

The core barrel 24 is of special construction which is best illustratedin Fig. l where it may be clearly s'een that the ends thereof areprovided with serrations or fingers 5| and 52 at the upper and lowerends respectively. The fingers 5| and 52 are of such configuration anddimension that when they are hanged inwardly at a radius of curvaturecorresponding to the radius of curvature of the shoulders 23 and 50,they form a flange which completely encloses the section of the corewhich is severed as the anging of the fingers takes place. As previouslymentioned the ends of the core barrel 24 are rounded to cooperate withthe shoulders 23 and 50 for this anging operation. While the core barrel24 is shown as having serratlons or fingers at both the upper and lowerends and the core drill assembly is shown as provided with angingshoulders 23 and 50, it is apparent that the serrations at either theupper or lower end of the core barrel 24 may be omitted with theomission of the function thereof and yet there will accrue advantageswhich are inherent in the present invention. l

In the use oi' the device thus far described the parts are assembled asshown in Fig. l and ordinary coring operations are pursued, the devicebeing rotated righthandedly, thus causing the threads 5*. to tighten andto prevent relative movement between the collar. i and the drill shank5. Drilling fluid is pumped downwardly through the operating stem 3 andis discharged outwardly through passages 41 in the core bit 4 as is wellknown in the art. As the bit advances the core which is cut enters thecore barrel 24. When the desired length of core is obtained theoperating string is rotated lei'thandedly whereby the threads 32 areunscrewed and the shank 5 is released for telescopic movement relativeto the drill collar I. When the threads 32 are released, downwardpressure from the operating string will cause downward movement of thedrill collar I whereupon the core barrel 24 is forced into conis removedtherefrom. Information from the sample may be obtained by removing thecore barrel therefrom in any suitable manner. If it is desired to keepthe sample for any material length of time prior to analysis the ends ofthe core barrel may be coated with any suitable sealing material wherebythe assembly is protected from gaseous contamination from without and atthe same time any gaseous component of the sample is sealed within thecore barrel. In order to obtain additional samples a new core barrel 24is inserted within the core drill assembly and the operation abovedescribed is repeated.

An important advantage of the present invention resides in the fact thatthe sample or core which is taken thereby is sealed prior to removal ofthe sample from the well. Hence the secrecy which surrounds drillingoperations may be more eiectively maintained and at the same timedeflnite knowledge may be had of the nature of the formationspenetrated'during the drilling operations.

What is claimed is:

l. A core drill assembly including a core drill and a drill collartelescopically connected thereto, an operating string connected to saiddrill collar, a threaded connection between said drill and collarwhereby the drill and collar are held in -extended relation when the bitis driven by the operating string, a core barrel within said assembly,and means for flanging the ends of said core barrel upon relativemovement of the drill and collar when said threaded connection isreleased.

2. A core drill assembly including a core drill and a drill collartelescopically connected thereto, a core barrel disposed within saidassembly, means within the assembly for ianging and closing the ends ofsaid core barrel upon relative longitudinal movement of said drill andcollar, and a releasable connection between the drill and collar so thattelescopic movement thereof may be effected whereby said means willclose the ends of the barrel and conne the core therein.

3. A core drill assembly including a core drill, a drill collar, and acore barrel disposed within said assembly, means in said assembly toengage the ends of said core barrel, a releasable connection betweensaid drill and collar so that said collar may telescope along said drilland said means will inwardly iiange the ends of said barrel to confinethe core therein.

4. A core drill assembly including a core drill,

, a drill collar, a core barrel within said assembly,

means in said assembly for engaging and inwardly Hanging the ends ofsaid core barrel upon relative longitudinal movement of the drill andcollar, and releasable means comprising a threaded connection betweensaid drill and collar for maintaining the drill and collar in extendedrelation during the cutting operation.

5. In a core drill assembly including a core drill and a drill collartelescopically connected thereto, a core barrel disposed within saidassembly, means within the assembly for hanging and closing the upperend of the core barrel upon relative longitudinal movement of said drilland collar, and a releasable connection between the drill and collar sothat telescopic movement therebetween may be effected.

6. A core drill assembly including a core ,drill and a drill collarhaving co-axial bores, a core barrel slidably fitting within the chamberprovided by said bores, and means in said bores adapted to collapse theends of said core barrel inwardly, whereby a section of core is'severeand encased within said core barrel.

7. A core taking device comprising a core drill, a drill collartelescopically connected to said drill, an axial bore in said drill andcollar, a core barrel slldably fitting within said bore, and shouldersin said bore adapted to bend the ends of said core barrelinwardly uponrelative longitudinal movement of said. drill and collar whereby asection of core is encased Within said core barrel.

8. A core taking device comprising a core drill, a drill collartelescopically connected to said'drill, an axial bore in said drill andcollar, a core barrel slidably mounted in said bore, means forreleasably connecting said drill and collar against relativelongitudinal movement, and means in said axial bore for iianging theends of the core l barrel when said first mentioned means is resaid corebarrel, and additional means for producing relative movement of saidfirst mentioned means to collapse the ends of said core barrel.

11. A. core barrel of the character described, a core drill assembly toreceive said barrel, and means on said assembly to engage and collapsethe ends of said barrel to confine a core therein.

l2. The combination of a core and container comprising a cylindricaltube, a core therein, the ends .of said container being flanged inwardlyto enclose the containerand corinne the core therein. l

13. The combination of a core and container comprising a cylindricaltube, a core therein, and means comprising fingers on each end of thecon tainer adapted to be flanged inwardly to completely enclose the corewithin the container.

14. A core barrel for receiving and completely encasing al core orsample therein while in a well bore comprising a tubular member, andmeans comprising fingers forming an integral part of the ends of thetubular member and adapted to bel flanged inwardly to completely enclosethe ends of the member.

15. In a core drill assembly a tubular core barrel comprising an annularshell having axially directed fingers on the ends thereof, said ngersbeing so constructed that they may be flanged finwardly to completelyenclose the ends of the core barrel and encase a core therein.

16. A core barrel to receive a sample of the formation being penetratedby the core drill, and means to inwardly flange and close the ends ofsaid barrel so that such closed core barrel will thereafter serve as acontainer for the core.

GRANVILLE A. HUMASON. WALTER'J. CLAY.

